Behind the Scenes & Future of Virtual Blythe Retreat  

This was my first VBR retreat only because I did not have a facebook account. With my daughter, to help me and tutor me on this new social media, I was able to participate and I had a wonderful experience. I am anxious to attend these new workshops. I love learning and improving my beginner skills. I hope VBR will continue for many years to come. I live in a small town and know absolutely no one who collects dolls the way I do. In that aspect, I am thrilled to meet and share photos and ideas with other Blythe doll collectors. Tammy and Terry Jeanette, you have opened a wonderful door for me. Thank you both.

Girls make your money!

Thanks so much for sharing all of the information! No questions.

Wishing you the BEST for your future endeavors.

Thanks Tammy and Terry Jeanette for this behind the scenes. The retreat was fun I enjoyed it a lot and my husband even encourage me to do more.. I would just call it Premier VBR Workshops. The supplies that we had to buy were not a big deal. I could find most of the items.(If I did not have the goodie bag it would have been a problem) I enjoy this year’s theme (it was my first). Thanks you both for the fun... Have fun and keep the sparkles on. Lovies Yetta💕

I am going to start saving for next year 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 Sounds from friends that it was really good 🧸💜🧸💜🧸

VBW - Virtual Blythe Workshop

Tammy & Terry - You have created an amazing community & loved all 3 VBRS. Hugs and love for all you do to make creative and fun events.

How about calling them ‘VBR tasters’ or ‘VBR taster session’ I think the extra workshops are a great idea. Thank you so much for the lovely mention girls and for taking all our comments onboard. I actually love your water themes. I’m not going on a summer holiday this year, so it was so much fun getting to make pretend beach and sea photos. I feel like I had a virtual summer craft holiday. I’m actually gutted I missed VBR 1. See you online. ❤️

Tammy and Terry, thank you for the VBR!!! It was so much fun!! Every retreat is a learning experience and I would love to see you on Patreon!

Ok everyone VBR Cruise!! 🚢 People pay their own way and we have doll gatherings. I appreciate you being honest about the $ situation. People deserve to get paid for their work! Art and crafts are undervalued.

I love the water beach themes! Maybe beaches around the world!😊

I think accepting donations for the goody bags could be a good idea. Donating helps to make people feel more involved in the group and more a part of the community. Everybody benefits. They would be donations, so people would not be expecting to get anything back as payment. We all realize how hard you both work on the event and that it does cost a lot of both time AND money. Having extra items for goody bags could take a little bit off of your plate. Also, to stay with your VBR branding, maybe call your one-off classes “Virtual Blythe Craft Class”? You could announce ahead of time when “Class would be in session”.

This was my first VBR and I really enjoyed the experience. I learned some new skills and stretched myself too. Great job!

As for donations - of doing a workshop or donating an item for the goodie bag - it helps the person get their brand/name out to the doll community so we are gaining advertising and you are gaining items/workshops, just another perspective to offer.

There is SOOO much behind the scenes work to make any type of retreat or convention come together…. You two are great. I applaud you for being transparent about the cost etc. Most people don’t understand…. People sometimes wonder why BlytheCon costs so much… you’ve nailed it. Events are not cheap! While I’ve not been able to participate, I do see all the posts 🤣 but I don’t mind. It’s hard for social media to be supportive… it’s so much work to be “seen” 😖 Anyway… Congrats on what appears to be another successful VBR. 🙌🏻

I think your Themes Were GREAT! Cute Ideas. For me? I like to know the dates of event EARLY so that I can get it/them on the Calendar early. Summer time is very busy for us, so the sooner on the calendar the better. ;-)

I’m glad you are looking into alternatives for Facebook for the VBR. I think you are limiting your audience if you stick with it. Many of us either can’t or won’t deal with them.

Congrats on running another fantastic Retreat Tammy and Terry! I've been coming since the first one and each year you're both knocking it out of the park and making it bigger and better than the last one. This vid was super informative on how VBR runs. I've always appreciated how you coordinate the workshop supplies between the workshops, where you can use the same batch of tools and supplies for multiple workshops. Where the money topic is concerned I can see both sides of VBR goers wanting to donate workshops and items and where you stand on ethics Tammy. From that point I wanted to say that I love that the workshops are run by both of you specifically, you both have a very good understanding on teaching and accessibility that guest workshoppers might not have. From person experience I'm an experienced sewer but only ever taken a few jewellery making classes and know that if either of you is teaching a workshop, even if its a completely new technique to me, that it will be explained and taught well. And just that trust with your teaching means that its easier to jump in and try a new technique or craft and that might not be the case with others teachers. I do think that the pass price is quite low for the amount of workshops, hours of activities and I'd certainly be happy at paying a higher pass price to help with the retreat running. When it comes to the facebook vs. another platform, I think the FB format works brilliantly for the Retreat and honestly its easy free and easy to learn (And this is coming from someone bad with tech) and if people want to be stubborn and not learn how to use it it will be their loss.Thank you so very much for taking on board our feedback about the scheduling to accommodate us different time zone folk.Am so excited with you saying crochet coming to VBR! I've loved the themes you've done! They have been different from each other and been really fun to craft outside my aesthetic comfort zone. Def sign me up for any additional workshops!

Lots of really great information. I do have a question though, I was wondering if the retreat videos will at some point be available on your channels? Appreciate all the hard work and dedication you ladies have put into this retreat for THREE WHOLE YEARS!!!🎉🎉🎉

Doll Shows. If your putting one on, or traveling to them. They COST. ;-)

I plan on attending a VBR snack/al a cart and the VBR 2025 🙂 I was working hard this year to finish some little Blythe dresses for the Blythecon Vegas 2024 goodie bag (I sew slow :-/). I love the idea of donating something for the VBR goodie bag - you could waive the entrance fee if you feel guilty about accepting donations 🙂. I appreciate all you both do and I really enjoy your channels!!

I am laughing about the Father's Day. I fed my husband and tried to get rid of him lol.

Since you mentioned December, what about the theme being Christmas?So I'm baking show off their Christmas outfits.And what surprising they make them It could be Christmas in June.Or you can do a Halloween theme.I know a lot of people were to that

Call it Mini VBR Retreat or Workshop

How about asking for donations to the goodie bags

How about if you allow people to donate items that will be placed into the goodie bags then they get the retreat ticket for free? So then it is like you are paying for their service in a way. Just a thought.

Oh also you can pin yours and Terry’s videos since you are both admins so maybe pin all the workshop videos and prize posts?

how did the vendors worked ? I did not participate on your VBR this year but the ideia is so so great.

Was the retreat done like a zoom meeting?

Uhm give me your address so that I can donate LOL!!!

What about taste VBR

hi! i'm one of those that bought a pass, but wasn't able to attend. i am actually not on facebook, so would have to go through my husband's account... i, too, was caught by surprise by father's day being that weekend! (someone told me it's the third sunday of june?) i will still buy a pass, because i support your VBR, but i don't think i'll ever get my own facebook account again. i love the ideas, though! thank you for sharing & doing all this! :) namaste :) ps. i would love to learn some crochet blythe stuff :)